Prologue

'How long have I been fighting?' The question flew lazily across Ladybug's mind, her weakening strength making her thoughts slow.
Another blow had her falling onto her side, then raising a hand quickly to pull herself back up again. She stood gasping, clutching a wall for support.

'How many times have I fallen?'

Another attack, this time directed at her left leg, flew her way. Ladybug managed to dodge to one side, almost losing her balance over a roof tile. Gripping her yo-yo tightly in her hands, Ladybug wound up and threw her weapon forward, hoping that this time, this time, she would stop the akuma long enough to retrieve its possessed object, a very expensive looking hair pin.

Ladybug's attack was easily deflected by the akuma, its laughter barking out in the night. She didn't know what had caused the woman before her to become akumatized. She hadn't had much time to make a guess, either, her mind preoccupied on the giant, ornate hammer the woman wielded.

'I can't keep this up much longer...'

The thought sent a thread of anxiety through Ladybug's chest, rousing some of her fading strength. Dodging away from more of the akuma's attacks, Ladybug threw her yo-yo up into the air, calling on her most trusted power.

"Lucky Charm!"

A whirl of colour, a swoop of motion, and Ladybug caught in her hands a length of thick, ladybug spotted chain. She didn't stop to think of a plan, allowing her eyes to work their magic as always. The world went gray around her, three pieces of the scene popping out in vibrant ladybug patterns.

'A wall on my right, a chimney to my left, and the akuma's hammer itself.'

"Hey, akuma!" Ladybug chocked out between breathes. "You're finished! You won't get my miraculous!" It was a weak statement, but Ladybug just hoped it was enough to anger the akuma into another attack.

With a yell, the akuma gave Ladybug her wish and swung the hammer back, winding up for another hit. Ladybug ran for the wall to her right as the akuma let loose her attack, hammer flying for Ladybug's head. A grin crossed the akuma's face; it was clear she thought she had won, Ladybug hadn't moved an inch from against the wall.

At the last second, Ladybug side stepped and brought her chain up, wrapping it around the hammer as it exploded against the wall. Shards of brick spraying around her, she pushed off of the wall behind her, flying for the chimney, and tied the weapon around it, bounding it tightly with the chain.

Shock was clear on the akuma's face, and she hesitated before looking round for Ladybug. Before the akuma could register what happened next, she felt a hand slip through her hair, felt her hair pin sliding across her scalp.

It was snapped between Ladybug's fingers just as a scream touched the akuma's lips. Ladybug quickly opened her yo-yo, swinging it forward one more time to capture the black butterfly as it fluttered into the sky, cleansing it of evil.

As the now white butterfly flew away, Ladybug muttered a quiet "Goodbye, little butterfly." She turned to the woman beside her on the roof, at the confused expression on her face, and sighed her relief. Lifting her lips into a smile small, Ladybug held out a hand to the woman.

"Don't worry, you're safe now. Let's get you off this roof."

The woman raised her hand to grip the super hero's. "Ladybug, what...?"

Ladybug shot her a comforting smile, grabbing the woman around the waist and swinging them down off the building's roof. Setting them gently on the sidewalk below, she turned towards the woman, parting her lips to offer more reassurance.

That's when Ladybug felt it. Eyes drilling into her back, an unwelcome presence watching her from behind. Ladybug chocked on a gasp, shock making her body go rigid in the dim light the moon gave. She turned her head slowly behind her, right arm still holding the previous akuma victim.

He was on the roof from which they had just vacated. Standing poised on the same chimney, green eyes catching the light of the street lamps.

Ladybug's eyes never left his form. "Go..." she managed quietly, releasing her arm from the woman's side. When the woman remained where she was, Ladybug's panic helped her find her voice.

"GO! Run, now, get away from here!" she shouted. A small gasp came from the woman, and Ladybug mercifully heard her retreating footsteps. The civilian safe, she focused her attention fully on the boy above her.
He hadn't moved a muscle, glaring down out her like a statue.

'Why now?! Why did he have to show up tonight!'

Chat Noir.